Photographer Issues

That is so unprofessional. Are you able to lose what you've paid already to go with someone else? Take a look at "yourcityweddingphotographer" on Instagram and explain your situation to photographers whose style you love and see if they can work with you.

Have you already signed a contract and paid a deposit? If not, I would find a new photographer ASAP. If you already signed a contract and paid a deposit, I would seriously think about if you would be okay with losing your deposit if you found a different photographer. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how easy it would be to find a new photographer because a lot of vendors are already booked this year. If you paid a deposit and don't want to lose it then another option would be to order save the dates without a photo and then use a photo for your invites.

I think your options are:

1. If you haven't already, first try having a conversation with her and explain the situation. Maybe she can try to squeeze you in sooner or provide a quicker turnaround time to try to gain a positive review/tip with good customer service.

2. Keep your photographer, send save the dates without engagement pictures

3. Fire her and lose your deposit, hire a new photographer (Probably the option I would go with because I wouldn't even want to think about her doing this for my wedding date)

4. If you have the additional funds, do two engagement shoots - keep your photographer, and hire a cheaper photographer to take pictures in the next month to use for your save the dates

It honestly sounds like you need to fire this photographer, how unprofessional. If you have a contact with her I think I would be reminding get of that and even then I don't think I would still trust her to take my photos. I just don't think I would be able to trust this person for such an important day

This does not sound professional at all! If you are able to, I would try to get a refund and find someone else because if she's already making excuses for you engagement photos, who knows what will come up on your wedding day!

If you can't get out of the contract, maybe see if she has any other availability before your scheduled shoot or can provide a quicker turn out.

If not, can she find you another photographer to shoot and she does the edits? I know when I reached out to photographers/videographers and asked them about all the what ifs and that was one option that was mentioned.

I recommend you find a new photographer

So I live in a competitive housing market and depending on where she is, she might not have much leeway on closing dates. I would stick with this photographer but ask for a quicker turnaround since you’re accommodating her personal life.

I would talk with her to see if you can meet somewhere in the middle and book an earlier engagement session. To be fair, a photo session such as an engagement session is flexible and it’s not like cancelling an event such as your wedding date.

If the photographer hasn’t given you any other reasons for alarm, this could just be a fluke. Things are so crazy right now & I know I’ve had some years where scheduling just did not work out.


I agree with what someone said above—engagement shoots aren’t strictly necessary & are flexible. You can send save the dates without pictures, & use the photos other ways. My FH & I aren’t sending save the dates at all; our shoot was so I could meet the photographer, & we plan to print photos to send to family with invites, gift our parents framed copies, make them into a guest book, & use as venue decor (& shower decor, if COVID lets us have one).
I think you should consider your answers to the following before making a final call:

- Has the photog given any other reason to distrust her?- Do you see similar stories in reviews?- Will you lose a lot of money if you cancel with her?- Do you have time to find a new photographer?
If you decide to go with her still, I would be clear about your save the date concern & ask about an option to have 1-3 photos delivered within a week so you can use them.